You OK, Bro?
Dear Healthy Men: How are all the crazy things going on in the world—the economy, gun control, the continuing pandemic, and political upheaval—affecting men’s mental health? A: A few days ago, a friend asked me, “You OK, Bro?”—a question that took me completely by surprise. I instinctively answered, “Fine”—doesn’t everybody? Because I didn’t elaborate, my friend... CONTINUE READING→
Talking to Your Stepson About His Dad
Dear Mr. Dad: My parents divorced when I was a teen, and I had a difficult relationship with my alcoholic father, which impacted my self-worth and adult relationships for years. Now, as a stepfather, I see my young-adult stepson dealing with similar issues—especially feelings of disappointment and anger—around his deceased birth father, who was also... CONTINUE READING→
How Nurses Can Engage Men In Preventive Care
Men and women tend to take very different approaches to their health care. Women generally seek routine care for gynecology issues and childbearing. On the other hand, most men don’t typically have a pressing need for regular health care once they leave the pediatrician. But self-awareness and preventive action are essential in detecting many diseases... CONTINUE READING→
Miscarriage Grief: Not For Women Only
Dear Mr. Dad: Just after our first trimester, my wife and I lost our baby. I’ve been focusing on being there for her and supporting her every way I can. But this miscarriage has hit me pretty hard too and I’m having a tough time coping. Part of the problem is that I feel guilty... CONTINUE READING→
A New Problem: Popular Male Fertility Procedure Can Lower Testosterone Levels
Testosterone has been top of mind in medicine over the last decade. And for good reason: It is now clear that testosterone in men is essential for normal growth, maturation, health, and well-being. In the brain, “vitamin T” influences sex drive, assertiveness, mood, energy, thinking and verbal memory. It increases muscle strength and maintains normal... CONTINUE READING→
Men Are Four Times as Likely to Die From Suicide. Why?
In 2020, according to the CDC, suicide took the lives of over 45,979 men, women, and children. That’s one death every 11 minutes. Not only is suicide an epidemic for the general population, but it’s also the third leading cause of death for boys and the 9th leading cause of death for all males. Women... CONTINUE READING→
A Chore by any Other Name Still Stinks (but Has to Be Done)
Dear Mr. Dad: I’m sure this makes me sound old, but when I was a kid, my siblings and I had chores that we had to do around the house. My wife, though, grew up in a house with full-time staff who did all the cleaning and meal prep. Naturally, that’s led to some arguments... CONTINUE READING→
Parents Play a Significant Role in Their Children’s Capacity to Regulate their Emotions
“If there is anything that we wish to change in the child, we should first examine it and see whether it is not something that could better be changed in ourselves.” – Carl Jung, Founder of Analytical Psychology, Swiss Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst Attachment to Both Parents Predict Preschool Children’s Emotional Regulation A 2021 Portuguese longitudinal study measured the... CONTINUE READING→
A Tale of Five Men’s Health Septembers
Dear Healthy Men: I know that Men’s Health Month was a few months ago, but shouldn’t we be paying attention to men’s health all year ‘round? A: Absolutely! That’s what we try to do here at Healthy Men—and it’s actually pretty easy. There are health-related awareness periods every month (Men’s Health Month, which you mentioned, is... CONTINUE READING→
Practicing Hope New Toolkit on Recovery Support in Communities
A Letter from the HHS Partnership Center Director Greetings friends, The data is in and, as many would have anticipated, the COVID-19 pandemic was experienced with particular hardship among those with substance use disorders. In 2020, the rate of drug overdose deaths accelerated and increased 31% from the year before – usually from opioids –... CONTINUE READING→